Last year, he lost a slew of students to graduation, raising some doubts about what he'd be able to pull off this year.

This weekend, "Seussical," the colorful rhymulous musical take on all things Seuss, opens with a cast that includes several underclassmen - and even 14 middle-schoolers - as if to prove what Horton says in the show: "A person's a person no matter how small."

Gwardyak says the mix of new students and veterans is paying off.

"(We've) made the shift from a concert to a show," he says. "That's a big deal because ... so much talent graduated. It is a big boost for the kids who are all feeling the 'this is just the best show' vibe."

Steven Solano, a sophomore, plays The Mayor of Whoville. When Horton hears a Who, he's the Who Horton hears.

Solano had never sung or danced before. Now he has to do both at the same time, an enterprise that takes "a lot of commitment and a lot of coordination." He says collaboration is its own reward.

The veterans have "told me ways to improve my steps, ways to improve my voice," he says. "I'll definitely miss them next year."

"Seussical" also marks the stage debut of freshman Max Rogers.

"I'll just be singing in the background, most of the songs," he says.

"It's a lot more work than I really thought it would be," he says. "It's very tiring."

"We have choreography - and I'm horrible at that," he says with a weary laugh. "I'm in the back in most of the songs - because I'm not great - and because I'm tall."

Jenna Sterling, a senior who turns 18 this week, plays Gertrude McFuzz, a tail-feather-challenged bird who's in love with Horton. She has been in many Eastchester Players Club shows; last year, she was Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes."

As a freshman, she played Sally Smith in "Me and My Girl," which did not sit well with upperclassmen - an underclassman with a starring role. Things have changed, she says.

"There are three middle-schoolers who have pretty decent roles and no one's saying 'Why are they getting that part? They're middle-schoolers.' It's about talent, not age. ... Everyone's supportive. They want whoever's best to get the role."

"It's a lot different from my experience," she says, "and it's nice to see a really unified cast."

Last year, junior Elizabeth DeVito was gangster moll Bonnie in "Anything Goes." In "Seussical," she plays JoJo, the mayor's son.

"Yes, son," she says, adding "I've never been a boy.

"It's really nice to have people who look up to you," DeVito says. "I love all the middle-schoolers. It's great to know that the club has a future, because there are a lot of stars in the middle school."

Joseph Blute is one of those middle-schoolers. The 13-year-old plays one of the mischievous Wickersham Brothers who pester the poor pachyderm Horton. He says he's watching the older kids.

"If you're smart, you can pick up stuff from 'em," he says. "They're probably twice the better actor than I am, but still you learn a lot from 'em and it's just a great experience."

"Where do they come from? I can't say. But I bet they have come a long, long way."